Every directional antenna emits radiation also in unwanted directions, known as sidelobes, as illustrated in the figure below. The other effect making the radio environment in the sky different from that on the ground is due to base station antenna sidelobes. The high level of interference might cause a low signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), which might make it difficult for the drone UE to promptly receive and decode mobility management related messages (for example, handover commands). Since the cells share the same radio resources, the increased likelihood of line-of-sight paths to many non-serving cells increases the interference for the drone.
The drone, however may have line-of-sight paths to many non-serving base stations in the area as well. The stronger signal strength from the serving base station is desirable. Since the signal propagation in the sky is close to free-space propagation, the signal strength becomes stronger due to the reduced path loss. Radio coverage from base stations to a terrestrial UE and a drone UE. If the UE moves to a higher altitude, as in the case of a hovering drone, the likelihood of objects obstructing the line-of-sight path becomes much smaller, as illustrated in the figure below. Base stations are often placed in elevated positions, such as on cell towers or on top of buildings. As a consequence, the received signal strength will be considerably weakened at the UE. ChallengesĪt higher altitudes, the two main effects that lead to a different radio environment are close to free-space propagation and antenna sidelobes.įor a terrestrial UE, the signal to and from the base station is often obstructed or diffracted due to objects blocking the direct (line-of-sight) path. In this blog post we dive deeper into these phenomena.
There we describe how the radio environment for drones in the sky can be very different from that experienced by terrestrial user equipment (UE). The company has conducted a few tests in the U.K., but has yet to integrate drones into any of its Prime services and the laws on drone use are still in flux across most of the world.In November 2018, we published a White Paper, Drones and networks: Ensuring safe and secure operations, discussing cellular radio networks and Drone Traffic Management (UTM), the enablers of the drone industry.
A few weeks later it filed a vertical warehouse in the shape of a beehive.Įven with all these filings, Amazon is still a few years away from any serious drone deployment. It patented a zeppelin concept that had drones delivering parcels from above and mini zeppelins supplying the mother. It should be noted Amazon is filing quite a lot of patents to do with drone travel and storage. We could even see Amazon use the transport for both supply and storage, with the drone taking items from the same truck or train. Having mobile storage and repair units may help Amazon deploy thousands of drones without having to spend a large amount on warehouse space inside major cities. “Additionally, intermodal vehicles may be loaded with replacement parts and/or inspection equipment, and configured to conduct repairs, servicing operations or inspections on aerial vehicles within the intermodal vehicles, while the intermodal vehicles are in motion,” said Amazon in the filing. “The intermodal vehicles may be coupled to locomotives, container ships, road tractors or other vehicles, and equipped with systems for loading one or more items onto the aerial vehicle, and for launching or retrieving the aerial vehicle while the intermodal vehicles are in motion.” See Also: Drones might inspect your house when making deliveries The drones would be moved to areas of anticipated demand and fly out from the mobile hub. In the latest patent filing, the e-commerce giant shows how special facilities connected to trains, boats, and vans could be used as storage space and repair stations for drones.
#Mobile drone station how to
Amazon’s engineers are cooking up some wild ideas on how to integrate drones into major cities.
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